Letter stamping and canceling machine



' (No Model.)

- F. BALDWIN I LETTER STAMPING AND GANGELING MAGHINH.-

No. 563,996. I Patented Jul I a r o) ML 4/ UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FRANK BALDWIN, OF ONONDAGA, MICHIGAN.

LETTER STAMPING AND CANCELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,996, dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed March 6,1896. Serial No. 582,159. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRANK BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Onondaga, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter Stamping and Canceling Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the construction of a machine for canceling stamps or for postmarking or dating letters, &c.

The invention consists in the construction of a machine having a stamp or die which is driven from a wheel and is moved to strike upon an inking-pad and then upon the letter which may be placed upon the base, and is so constructed as to cause the die to lift from the pad or letter without any slipping movement which might blur the mark or wear the pad. lhis is accomplished by means of a single lever, to which the die is secured, secured at two separated points by links supported above and below the lever, the lever being connected with the drive-wheel by a connecting-rod.

In the drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are diagram side elevations showing the parts in different positions.

A is a suitable base having standards B and C thereon. On the standard B is supported the drive-wheel D. This drive-wheel may be turned by a crank or a pedal mechanism, as by the drive-belt E.

F is a lever having the die G at one end and at the other end connected to a crankpin H on the wheel D by means of a connecting-rod 1. Intermediate the ends this lever is supported by the link J, pivoted at one end in the base or other suitable point and at its upper end in the lever, and by the link K, pivoted at its upper end in the standards 0 and at its lower end in the lever.

L is an inking-pad on the base.

Fig. 1 shows the die on the inking-pad, Fig. 5 2 shows it lifted up, and Fig. 3 shows it as striking the letter to cancel the stamp or affiX postmark.

This simple device works satisfactorily and rapidly, and the wheel may be driven by any power in large offices to greatly facilitate the marking of letters. Any other means of reciprocating the lever will efiect the same result, as the links arranged as described will cause the die to strike successively upon the pad and letter.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination with the base, the diecarrying lever, inking means, swinging supports on opposite sides of the lever at separated points and means for reciprocating the lever.

2. The combination with the base, of the die-carrying lever, inking means, swinging supports on opposite sides of the lever, a drive-wheel and a connecting-rod from the wheel to the lever.

3. The combination with the base, the diecarrying lever, the inking-pad on the base, the links supported above and below and arranged on opposite sides of the lever, and engaging with the lever at different points in its length, and the drive-wheel and connectin g-rod.

4.. In a stamping-machine the combination with a base, of an inking and stamping surface arranged on substantially the same plane, a lever, a die carried by the lever adjacent to the said surfaces and means for imparting a reciprocating and oscillating movement to the lever to move the die successively from one surface to the other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' v FRANK BALDWIN.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, O. F. BARTHEL. 

